EMMA BONNEY, runner-up up at the Women's World Championships earlier this season, heads the entry for the inaugural Irish Ladies Snooker Open starting in Joey's Snooker Club, Harmonstown, Dublin on Monday.
Bonney will play her first match on Monday against recently crowned Irish intermediate champion Laura Alves.
Also in her group is many times Irish champion Sandra Bryan.
Entered also is 17-year-old Yana Shut from Belarus, runner-up in the World U21 Championships this year. She takes on among others Irish champion Annette Newman in the group stages. Another name to watch is Maria Catalano, former British champion and cousin of Ronnie O'Sullivan.
A total of 16 Irish players have signed up along with players from England, Uganda, Belarus, Brazil and South Korean, some of them based in Ireland and helping boost the standard of play locally.
Finals will take place next Thursday July 30 from 11.30am. Full schedule at http://147starsacademy.com
Snooker